By Jerry O’Brien
7-31-15
AMSOIL Speedway finished off the month of July with the Twin Ports Twin
25’s Late Model special. To top it off, the first of two 25 lap main events was a
OneMain Financial WISSOTA PolyDome Dirt Track Series Challenge Series race.
It was the third Challenge Series race over the weekend and drew the largest
contingent with 35 cars in attendance. Also on the card were the WISSOTA
Midwest Modifieds and Pure Stocks.
Four heat races and a pair of B Features qualified racers for the first of two 24
car features along with a provisional starter to make the field of 25. Travis
Budisalovich, Nate Beyenhof, John Kaanta and Rick Hanestad won the heats and
the B Features went to Jeff Wildung and Darrell Nelson.
The first 25 lap feature flagged off with Jake Redetzke to the lead over Nate
Beyenhof Rick Hanestad, Steve Laursen and Travis Budisalovich. The caution
flag flew as Jason Schill attempted to exit the track but was unable to make it off
the surface. The restart with two laps in went badly as several cars near the back of
the pack were caught up in a wreck. Involved were Jay Kintner, Series point leader
Jeff Provinzino, Robbie Cooper, Pat Doar and Tim McMann. The restart saw
Redetzke continue with the lead over Hanestad, Fegers, and Budisalovich and
Laursen. Budisalovich put on a charge into second and drove by Redetzke to the
front. The front three Budisalovich, Redetzke and Hanestad maintained those
positions while tenth starting Jesse Glenz, a rookie in the Late Models moved up
to contest for position. No further caution flags showed and the top five stabilized
at Budisalovich, Redetzke, Hanestad, Glenz and Fegers. Laursen, Chad Mahder
Kaanta, Byenhof and Dave Esse finished in the top ten. Redetzke turned the Quik
Trip Quick Lap at 18.187 seconds. It was Budiaslovich’s second feature win of the
season at the speedway.
The winner of the first 25 lap feature then must draw for his starting spot in the
second main event and Budiisalovich drew the number 14 meaning he would start
the second feature outside of the seventh row.
Lance Matthees drew the pole for the second 25 lap event with Buddy
Hanestad to his outside. The veteran wasted little time bolting to the lead as rick
Hanestad raced into second past Jeff Massingill and Jeff Wildung while Dave Esse
clung to fifth. The front five didn’t change until about four laps in when Chad
Mahder slipped past Esse into fifth. Esse fell back into the clutches of John
Kaanta. Meanwhile Budisalovich got up on the wheel and captured eighth as part
of a spirited drive toward the front. Wildung, who had been slipping back,
gathered it up, found a groove that worked and began to work his way forward
getting into third as Budiaslovich landing in fourth. Wildung then got past Mahder
into second, then on lap 12 passed Matthees for the lead. Matthees fell into a battle
with Mahder and Budiaslovich who, by this time had passed 14 cars to take fourth.
The only caution flag of the event was for Glenz who stalled on the front stretch
with 14 laps remaining. The restart was a good one for Wildung as it was for
Hanestad who was rebounding from his mid race slide and was now in second and
closing on Wildung. They traded the lead for a couple of laps before Hanestad
took over for good and went on for the win. Wildung finished second and
Budisalovich came up two positions short of winning both features, a feat no one
has been able to pull off in the 11 year history of the event. Mahder was fourth and
Kaanta finished in the top five. Redetzke, Darrell Nelson, Glenz, Massingill and
Provinzino rounded out the top ten. Nelson came from 19th after having the rear
quarter panel ripped off the #44 in the first event. Early leader Matthees fell all the
13th spot at the finish.
Twin Feature #2
Hanestad; Wildung; Budisalovich; Mahder; Kaanta; Redetzke; Nelson; Glenz;
Massingill; Provinzino; M. Fegers; Esse; Matthees; Laursen; B. Hanestad;
Beyerhof; Balcaen DNF: Wohlers; Doar; Kintner; Shaw; McMann DNS: Cooper;
Terry Lillo; Schill
In other action Skeeter Estey won his fourth feature of the season at the
speedway as he used the second early caution flag to his advantage as he grabbed
the lead from point leader Nick Daronco around lap six and never looked back.
The ever present Deven VanHouse made his way to second while Shane Howell
sneaked his way forward from his lonesome start by himself in row 12 to finish
third over Daronco and Mack Estey who had been sent to the back after a incident
with Daronco just before the mid point of the 20 lap race.
Dustin Follett completed another WISSOTA Pure Stock sweep for his 13th
feature win and fifth at the Speedway this season. Justin Weinberger led all but the
last two feet of the 15 lap main event as Follett tracked him down on the final
couple of laps for the win. Three number 11’s finished second through forth,
Weinberger, Dylan Shelton and Tucker Quinn with defending track champion
Ryan Savoy in fifth.
Results Twin Ports Twin 25’s and OneMain Financial Challenge Series (35 cars)
1st 25 lap Feature (counted as Challenge Series race)
Travis Budiaslovich Minneapolis; Jake Redetzke Eau Claire; Rick hanestad
Boyceville; Jesse Glenz Cadott, WI; Marshall Fegers Savage, MN; Steve Laursen
Cumberland; Chad Mahder Eau Claire; John Kaanta Elk Mound; Nate Beyerhof
Rock Rapids, IA; Dave Esse Cloquet; Jeff Wildung Nassau, MN; Jeff Massingill
Keewatin; Buddy Hanestad Boyceville; Lance Matthees Winona, MN; Pat Doar
New Richmond; Jeff Provinzino Hibbing; Mike Balcaen Winnepeg, MB; Zach
Wohlers Kelly Lake DNF: Darrell Nelson Hermantown; Tim McMann Rice Lake,
MN; Jay Kintner Hibbing; Don Shaw Ham Lake, MN; Robbie Cooper South
Range; Terry Lillo Duluth Jason Schill Centuria, WI
B Feature #1: Wildung; Massingill; Wohlers; John Toppozini Thunder Bay; Todd
Gehl Solon Springs; Kevin Carlson Hermantown; Gregg Hill Eveleth DNS: Harry
Hanson Eveleth; David Smith Edmonton AB
B Feature #2: Nelson; Matthees; Provinzino; Doar; Aaron Lillo Proctor; George
Ledin Grand Rapids; Trevor Wilson Superior DNF: Tim Lillo Superior
Heat 1: Budiaslovich; Laursen; Cooper; B. Hanestad; Balcaen; Smith; Toppozini;
Wilson DNF: Hanson
Heat 2: Beyenhof; Kintner; McMann; Terry Lillo; Massingill; Schill; Gehl; Hill
DNF: Tim Lillo
Heat 3: Kaanta; M. Fegers; Esse; Shaw; Matthees; Nelson; A. Lillo; Wohlers;
Carlson
Heat 4; Hanestad; Redetzke; Mahder; Glenz; Wildung; Doar; Provinzino; Ledin
WISSOTA Midwest Modified
Feature (20 laps)
Skeeter Estey Kelly Lake; Deven VanHouse; Shane Howell Buffalo, MN; Nick
Daronco Mountain Iron, MN; Kyle Matuska North Branch, MN; Mack Estey
Hibbing; Dan Kingsley Superior; David Simpson Thunder Bay; Cole Chernosky
Thunder Bay; David Kivi Nolalu, ON; Tyler Vernon Ashland; Andrew Inman
Hermantown; Jamie Smart Kakabeka Falls, ON; Jason Goldfine Superior; Gunner
Peterson Drummond DNF: Dale Suomala, Jr Hermantown; Brandon Copp Brule;
Josh Heavirland Cloquet; Mike Jacques Thunder bay; Craig Lofdahl Duluth;
Shane Kisling Park Falls; Rob Ranttalo Thunder Bay; Don Craig Thunder Bay
Heat 1: M. Estey; Simpson; Chernosky; Vernon; Kivi; Copp; Goldfine; Peterson
Heat 2: S. Estey; Matuska; Kisling; Lofdahl; Smart; Inman; Ranttalo; Jacques
Heat 3: Daronco; VanHouse; Jingsley; Suomala, Jr; Craig DNF: heavirland;
Howell
Pure Stocks
Feature (15 laps)
Dustin Follett Cloquet; Justin Weinberger Park Falls; Dylan Shelton Wrenshall;
Ryan Savoy Superior; Tucker Quinn Ladysmith; Annika Hammitt Cloquett;
Shaina Rapp Saginaw; Justin Madsen Foxboro; Kyle Copp Brule; John Smith
Foxboro DNF: Andy Poll Two Harbors; Chad Carlson Superior; Carter Nelson
Hermantown; Andrew Hanson Iron River
Heat 1; Savoy; Weinberger; Quinn; Rapp; Madsen; Copp DNF: Hanson
Heat 2: Follett; Shelton; A. Hammitt; Poll; Smith; Nelson; Carlson
